Villa Traful

If there were a prize for the most beautiful lake in the region, Lago Traful would win for its clarity, serenity, and wild surroundings. Small log houses peek through the cypress forest along the way to Villa Traful, a village of about 500 inhabitants.

The tiny community consists of log cabins, horse corrals, shops for picnic and fishing supplies, a school, a post office, and a park ranger's office. Well-maintained campgrounds border the lake, and ranches and private fishing lodges are hidden in the surrounding mountains. By day swimmers play on rocky beaches, kayakers cut the still blue water, and divers go below to explore the mysteries of a submerged forest. Night brings silence, stars, and the glow of lakeside campfires.